Iinitfd statfs patfnt offitf



Jan. 30, 1923. 1,443,727. H. c. CHAPMAN.

HEADLIGHT DIMMER.

FILED 1AN.30.1922.

Sinne/whom Jewmn Cortes zapmom Patented Jan. 30, 1923.

airsN stares HERNAN CORTES CHAPMAN, 0F LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO, CANADA.

HEADLIGHT DIMMER.

Application led January 30, 1922. Serial No. 532,870.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HERNAN Con'rns CHAPMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Leamington, in the Province of Ontario and the Dominion ot Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Headlight. Dimmers, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to light dimmers and refers particularly to diinmers for use in motor vehicle headlights. The invention has for one of its objects the provision of a simple construction of dimmer which may be readily applied and which will permit ot removal and replacement of the light bulb. The invention also has for one of its objects the provision of a dimmer having adjustable shields which may be adjusted to suit different driving conditions. Further objects ot the invention reside in the novel features oit1 construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as more 'fully hereinafter set vforth.

In the drawings:`

Figure 1 is a central cross section through a headlightwith a dimmer embodying my invention applied;

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section of the dimmer;

Figures 3 and t are respectively front and rear elevations thereof.

socket 9 of the dimmer trame is detachably secured to the socket 10 in the same manuel'. In detail, 13 are diametrically opposite pins or projections extending inwardly from the socket 9 and detachably engaging in bayonet slots in the socket 10.

141 and 15 are segmental colored glass shields upon one side ot' the bulb 3 and extending between the front and rear rings 5 and 6 respectively, and carried thereby. The shield 14C is stationary, while the shield 15 is rotatable with its axis of rotation registering substantially with the longitudinal axis of the bulb 3. The radius of the shield 15 is less than that ot the shield le so that the two may be arranged in nested relation above the bulb 3. Also, the arcs ot the shields are suiticient so that when the adjustable shield 15 is rotated to its lowermost position as indicated by the dotted line 16 in Figure 2, there is formed in effect, a cylindrical shield surrounding the bulb 3. 17 and 18 are relatively adjustable semi-circular colored glass shields-'carried by the iront ring 5 and arranged in tront olf the bulb 3. rIhe shield 17 is stationary, while the shield 18 may be rotated with its axis ot rotation substantially registering with the longitudinal axis of the bulb 3 so that the two shields may form, in eitect, a circular shield in front of the bulb 3 or they may be made to jregister withy each other, in which case, the upper half, substantially, of the bulb 3 will be shielded. The rotatable segmental shield 15 is held in its positions ot adjustment by` suitable means such as the set screws 19 in the tie bars 7 while the rotatable shield 18 is held in its positions of adjustment. by the screw 20.

For the purpose of providing for ventilation when the shields 15 and 18 are adjusted to closed positions the apertures 21 are provided near the top of the front ring 5.

To permit of ready removal and replacement of the bulb 3, the front ring 5 is detachably connected to the rear ring 6 ot the dimmer frame by the pins 22 at the front ends of the tie bars 7.

With the above construction, the shield 18 may be adjusted to completely shield the Jfront of the bulb 3 and the shield 15 may also be adjusted so that the bulb will be completely surrounded, so that with the shields7 which are preferably blue. in these positions all light passing 'from the headlight will be soft. The bright light passing rearwardly from the bulb strikes the reflector of the headlight and then passes the dimmer and commingles with the colored light passing through the shields. As a result of this commingling ot bright and very soft colored lights, a sott light suitable for city driving or the like is secured. However, for country driving, the front shield 18 may be rotated to register with the front shield 17 and the side segmental shield 15 may be rotated to nest with the side segmental shield 14 so that a greater amount ot bright light side of said is permitted to strike the reflector, but this bright li ht strikes that portion of the relector W iich Will not raise the saine into the eyes of the driver of an oncoming motor vehicle. The light passing abovethelongitudinal axis of the bulb remains soft. Thus with this arrangement of shields,'the road ahead of the motor vehicle. can be illumi-a nated for a greater distance Without producing an objectionable glare.

What l claim as my invention is: v

l. The combination with a light bulb, of a dimmer comprising substantially parallel rin a. tie bar therebetween, relatively adjusts, le segmental shields extending between said rin und arranged at the side of said bulb, an a shield carried by oneof lszaild) rings and arranged in front of Said 2. The combination with a light bulb v d a socket detachably carrying said bulb, dlgs. dimmer detachab y mounted upon` said socket and comprising substantially parallel rings Aof reater diameter than .said bulb and errang tachabl connecting said rings to each other, relativ y adjustable segmental shields extending between said rings and carried thereby, and relatively adjustable shields carried by one of said rings at the front of said bulb.

3. The combination with a reflector, a socket extending therethrough, and a. li ht bulbv detaohably carried by said socket, o 8..;

dimmer detachably carried by said socket comprising a freine, relatively rotatable segmental colored shields carried by said frame at the side of said bulb, and relatively :rotatable colored shields also carried by said frame and arranged in front of said bulb.

i. The combination With a li ht bulb, of a dimmer com rising a pair ofs ields at one lbulb, one of said shields being adjustable, and a pair of shields .in front of said bulb, one of the last mentionedv shields bein adjustable independently of the adjusta le shield aforesaid.

5. The combination with a llight bulb, of

attlie ends thereof, a tie bar de-A dimmer comprisin a frame including front and rea-r rings, au tie-bars connecting said rings, means for removably securin the rear iel ring to said socket, vcolored sh carried by said frame at the side of said li ht, one of said shields being adjustable, an means for retaining said adjustable shield in adjusted sition.

7 Till? combination with a reflector, a socket extending therethrough, and a. light bulb detachablycarried by said socket, of a dimmer comprisin .a frame including trout and rear rin `an tie bars connecting said rings, means or removably securing the rear ring to said socket, colored shields carried bysaid frame at the side of 4said light, one of said shields being adjustable, means for retaining seid adjustable shield in adjusted position, and rallatively adjustable colored shields carried the front ring and arranged in front o said bulb.

8. The colinbination with a reector, a socket exten ing therethrough, and a light bulb detachably carried by said socket, of a dimmer detachably carried by said socketcomprising a traine iucludin a pair of spaced rings, one of said ringsiaving apertures formed therein, segmental colored shields carried by said frame between said rings and arranged upon one side of said bulb, one of said shields being adjustable, means for retaining saidv adjustable shield in adjusted position and relatively adjustable, semi-circular colored shields carried b one gflaid `rings and arranged in ront o said In testimony whereof I ailix my si ature.

HERNAN CORTES CHAP AN. 

